Lake-Friendly Boating Map

Protect Shorelines and Lake Bottoms

Through the Lake-Friendly Boating Initiative, NH LAKES recommends minimum shoreline setback distances and water depths based on different types of boating activity. These guidelines are informed by scientific research and observations from New Hampshire’s lakes.

By matching boating activity to appropriate distances from shore and water depths, boaters can reduce impacts to water quality, shorelines, lakebeds, wildlife, and vegetation—helping protect the long-term health of our lakes.

Access the Lake-Friendly Boating Map here, an interactive web app that helps boaters visualize distance and depth while enjoying our lakes.

Watch this recorded walk-through to learn how to use the map, and read on to learn more about lake-friendly boating distances from shore and water depths for your boating activity.

Boating Distance and Depth Recommendations

Boats Supporting Wakesport Activity

Distance from Shore

Operate at least 500 feet from shore when producing surf or wakeboard wakes.

Water Depth

Operate in 20 feet of water or greater when in semi-displacement (surfing) mode to minimize impacts on the lakebed.

These activities intentionally amplify wave energy to create surfable wakes. Because these wakes are relatively large, a greater distance from shore and deeper water are necessary to minimize impacts to shorelines and lakebeds.

The Water Sports Industry Association recommends a minimum shoreline setback of 200 feet for wakesports. While NH LAKES does not endorse this recommendation as lake-friendly, we have provided map layers reflecting this setback for boaters who choose to follow it.

Recreational Powerboats

Distance from Shore

Operate at least 150 feet from shore when traveling at speed or producing noticeable wake. (This is the New Hampshire headway speed rule.)

Water Depth

When operating in planing mode, operate in 10 feet of water or greater.
When operating in sustained displacement mode (slow cruising), also operate in 10 feet of water or greater.
When traveling in waters less than 10 feet deep (such as channels or when accessing docks and launches), go as slowly as possible to minimize wake and pressure waves.

Heavily Weighted Boats, Large Pontoon Boats, Large Cruisers

While scientific studies do not provide specific distance and depth recommendations to minimize disturbance to shorelines and lake bottoms, observations show that these types of boats can generate large wakes.

Boaters operating these vessels have a unique opportunity to reduce their impact by staying aware of how their activity affects the lake and adjusting accordingly.

NH LAKES recommends: